Today in Soap Opera History (November 19)

"History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside."
- John F. Kennedy

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mike (John Larkin) tried to convince a distraught Roger to admire Mary for what she did.

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) agreed to see Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) after she insisted they talk.

1976: On SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, Eunice (Ann Williams) died after shot by Jennifer (Morgan Fairchild). Jennifer had shot Eunice the week before (see clip below).

1978: On DALLAS, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) learned she was pregnant, and couldn't be sure whether J.R. (Larry Hagman) or Cliff (Ken Kercheval) was the father. J.R. slapped Sue Ellen in the powerful final scene.

1979: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Melinda told Kim (Kathryn Hays) about the party Betsy (Suzanne Davidson) had while Kim was visiting Lisa (Eileen Fulton).

1981: Elizabeth Taylor aired for the final time as Helena Cassadine in GENERAL HOSPITAL.

1981: On KNOTS LANDING, as Sid's (Don Murray) friends and family waited for news during his surgery, Karen (Michele) reminisced about giving birth to her children with her husband by her side. The surgery went badly, however, and the doctor emerged to give her the bad news. The family was devastated, and Karen drove the children home in stunned silence, then listened to Sid's loving final message to her on a tape he recorded just before he went into surgery.

1981: Harley Kozak debuted on TEXAS as Brette Wheeler.

1986: On GUIDING LIGHT, the man holding Mindy (Krista Tesreau) and Reva (Kim Zimmer) captive died (Kevin Carrigan) after falling while being chased by Josh (Robert Newman). Carrigan would play at least three other minor roles on GUIDING LIGHT in future years.

1987: Julie Harris aired for the final time in KNOTS LANDING as Lilimae Clements. Lilimae and Al (Red Buttons) left town to travel around the country. At the end of the episode, Greg (William Devane) received a phone call telling him Laura had died.

2006: Actor Jeremy Slate died at age 80. He played Chuck Wilson in ONE LIFE TO LIVE and Locke Walls on GUIDING LIGHT.

2008: Actor Wayne Heffley died at age 81. He played Vern Scofield in DAYS OF OUR LIVES starting in 1988.